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Related Experiment Videos

Suicidal hangings in jail using telephone cords.

Reade A Quinton1, David Dolinak

  • 1Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-9073, USA.

Journal of Forensic Sciences
|October 11, 2003
PubMed
Summary

Jail suicides using telephone cords highlight a need for safer phone accessibility. Modifications like shortened cords or cordless phones are being implemented, but standardized safety measures are still lacking.

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Area of Science:

  • Forensic Science
  • Public Health
  • Criminology

Background:

  • Three suicide by hanging deaths involving telephone cords occurred in Texas jails within a three-month period in 2000.
  • The telephones were cell-located, granting prisoners constant, unhindered access.

Observation:

  • Two jails reduced receiver cord length to 6-8 inches; one jail replaced phones with cordless models.
  • These modifications were made despite the lack of established safety standards for jail telephones.

Findings:

  • The incidents underscore the potential for readily accessible telephones to be misused for self-harm in correctional facilities.
  • A subsequent incident in 2002 indicates the ongoing nature of this safety concern.

Implications:

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  • There is a critical need for standardized safety protocols regarding the type and placement of telephones in jail cells.
  • Implementing safer telephone designs and accessibility controls is essential to prevent future suicide incidents.